MONROVIA – The West African nation of Liberia, with a population of 5.3 million, ranks low in mitigating cyber crimes due to the lack of cybersecurity laws for the regulation and protection of digital data.
By Sherman Dioh, Contributor
The nation, which has 1.80 million internet users including students, entrepreneurs, and politicians, faces various cyber attacks, including the hacking of personal data.
There has been limited advocacy for a robust and inclusive internet governance policy in Liberia, making it easier for thousands of internet users in the country to be defrauded and fall victim to cyber attacks.
These attacks are carried out through different techniques including phishing, social engineering, password cracking, SQL injections, click-jacking, and watering hole attacks, among others, due to a lack of education and awareness on cybersecurity.
In August 2023, an online marketing group, “Smart Al,” defrauded millions of Liberian dollars from several Liberians using the Lonestar Cell MTN Mobile Money service platform.
Some cybersecurity scholars believe this cyber fraud was made possible due to Liberia’s unprotected cyberspace.
Although victims of the “Smart Al” scam reported the case to the Liberian government, nothing has been done to ensure that the millions of Liberian dollars collected through the Lonestar Cell MTN Mobile Money service are refunded or restituted either by Lonestar Cell MTN or the ghost company “Smart Al.”
A legal expert told MY MEDIA Global News that neither Lonestar Cell MTN nor “Smart Al” could be held responsible by authorities of the Liberian government because Liberia does not have cybersecurity laws that could be used to provide legal adjudication in cases raised by victims of the Smart Al scam.
Cyber attacks in Liberia could increase in the coming years without the government being able to intervene due to either low or non-existent technological infrastructure and the lack of a legal framework, including legislated laws that could ensure the fostering and protection of Liberia’s cyberspace while also protecting digital data and imposing penalties on cyber attackers, a top Liberian lawyer who spoke to MY MEDIA Global News on condition of anonymity said.
Jerry Elis, an emerging ICT analyst in Monrovia, told MY MEDIA Global News that many Liberian internet users are at risk of being attacked or defrauded on social media due to a lack of education or awareness on how cyber attackers operate.
In early 2023, 1.80 million people were recorded as internet users in Liberia, with internet penetration standing at 33.6 percent. The country became home to 642.1 thousand social media users in January 2023, equating to 12.0 percent of the total population.
With these figures, about 98.7 percent of internet users are attacked, and a significant number have fallen victim to cyber attacks.
These internet users in Liberia are vulnerable either due to digital illiteracy or a lack of cybersecurity knowledge.
According to reports, Liberia’s illiteracy rate stands at 52.7 percent, and limited technological opportunities for citizens make it difficult for many internet users to understand the importance of protecting digital data.
The rapidly evolving world has enabled many Liberian youths with some digital knowledge to use social media to seek local or overseas scholarships, travel, and work opportunities. However, a significant number of them have fallen victim to cyber attacks or wire fraud due to limited or non-existent cybersecurity measures.
Most often, Liberian internet users click on almost every link on social media without understanding whether the links pose a threat to their data.
Notably, 99 percent of internet users in Liberia are unaware of the importance of using strong passwords (such as two-factor authentication) for the protection of their accounts.
They are also unaware of the importance of avoiding unverified links to prevent cyber attacks.
However, the Liberia Internet Governance Forum (LIGF) in collaboration with Internews Liberia has launched a campaign to foster digital collaboration and strengthen multistakeholder partnerships for internet governance.
On Monday, August 26, the LIGF held the first session of a three-day series of activities aimed at improving digital literacy.
The LIGF conducted the 2024 Youth Internet Governance Forum in Monrovia as the commencement of its activities under the theme: “Collaborative Governance: Youth Driving Multistakeholder Engagement.”
The Liberia Internet Governance Forum also held a one-day session led by Internews Liberia in Monrovia on Wednesday, which brought together student groups, media representatives, civil society organizations, government representatives, cybersecurity experts, among others.
The LIGF session was held through panel discussions covering different topics including cybersecurity and data privacy, digital literacy and skills development, content regulation, and online freedom, among others.
LIGF, in collaboration with Internews Liberia, concluded the 2024 Liberia Internet Governance Forum with an elaborate forum attended by government officials, civil society actors, media, student groups, and others.
The expected outcome of the forum is to improve digital literacy, influence policy development, and increase awareness.
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